The Buzz: Heisman news and views
Ballots will soon be distributed to Heisman voters. This time next month, we’ll have our new Heisman Trophy winner.
Time for our traditional weekly feature that rounds up the latest Heisman news and updates from around the media world.
(Disclaimer — The Heisman Trophy Trust and Heisman.com does not endorse any college football player for the Heisman Memorial Trophy. The information contained here serves as a platform of information for fans and media, and is not intended to contain a definitive and comprehensive list of possible contenders.)
The Buzz
— Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield appears to have taken charge in the Heisman race, according to Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News, Gridironnow.com, ESPN and CBSSports.com.
— Mayfield landed in the top 10 of a recent mock draft.
— Stanford head coach David Shaw endorsed running back Bryce Love for the Heisman. Is he a lock for New York?
— Penn State’s Saquon Barkley needs a historic finish to win the trophy, writes the York Daily Record, but his Nittany Lion teammates are still behind him.
“There’s a lot of stuff behind the scenes that I think some of the voters might not see ore realize what he’s doing for our team,” adds quarterback Trace McSorley.
— Does Barkley deserve to be a candidate at this point? asks the USA Today.
— Auburn coach Gus Malzahn thinks Tigers running back Kerryon Johnson should be in the Heisman conversation.
“I mean I’ve been saying it for a couple weeks that he’s one of the best running backs in the country, if not the best,” Malzahn said. “He proved it tonight. He needs to be in the Heisman talk.”
— Is Lamar Jackson getting snubbed in the Heisman race? After all, he’s the first player to twice have 3,000 passing yards and over 1,000 rushing yards in a season. On another note, Syracuse’s bowl hopes now hinge on stopping Jackson this coming Saturday.
I’m not certain if that is punishment for A) his 6 interceptions; B) Louisville’s four defeats or C) expectations set by Jackson winning the award last season. But if there are five better offensive players in college football than Lamar Jackson, I need to file a blank Heisman ballot.
— Don’t count out UCF’s Mackenzie Milton, who is second nationally to Mayfield in passing efficiency.
— Khalil Tate of Arizona continues to rip off extraordinary amounts of yardage.
— Some nostalgia for the 10th anniversary of Tim Tebow‘s Heisman-winning season.
— A look at 1961 Heisman winner Ernie Davis from The Undefeated.
NFL Heisman Update
— A big day for Mark Ingram, who ran for 131 yards and 3 TDs on 21 carries in New Orleans’ 47-10 romp over Buffalo.
— Marcus Mariota passed for 264 yards and a TD and rushed for 51 more as the Titans nipped the Bengals, 23-20.
— Derrick Henry added 52 yards on 11 carries for the Titans.
— Jameis Winston, Carson Palmer and Sam Bradford all sat out due to injury.
— Cam Newton and the Panthers take on the Dolphins on Monday Night Football.
Video of the Day
Is Herschel Walker part mascot?
